Fig. 8.

Plectin is not required to maintain IF-FA association. (A) Extracts of mock-transfected TrHBMECs (untreated control) and cells transfected with either control siRNA or plectin siRNA were processed for western blotting, probed first with a plectin antibody and then reprobed with a tubulin antibody. (B) Analysis of densitometric scans of western blots from three different experiments equivalent to that shown in A. Error bars represent s.e.m. of three experiments. (C) Mock-transfected (control) TrHBMECs or TrHBMECs transfected with plectin siRNA were stained for plectin (green). (D) Mock-transfected (control) TrHBMECs or TrHBMECs transfected with plectin siRNA were allowed to spread on glass coverslips before being processed for immunofluorescence microscopy using a combination of antibodies against paxillin (green) and vimentin (red). (E) Quantification of IF-FA association in TrHBMECs transfected with plectin siRNA compared with mock-transfected (control) cells. There is no significant difference in IF-FA association between plectin siRNA-treated cells and control cells (P>0.1). Error bars represent s.e.m. of three experiments. Scale bars: 10 μm.